A man who brought rescue to someone stuck in a ravine, as well as a group of people who helped a deputy hold down a combative suspect, received awards Thursday from Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith.

“Citizens routinely assist our deputies in a variety of ways, but these two specific incidents highlight four citizens who really went above and beyond in saving the lives of their fellow citizens. I am proud to recognize them by awarding them the Sheriff Star for their efforts,” Smith said in a news release.

Thomas Ames of Loveland received his award for the assistance he provided Larimer County Park Rangers in locating a missing man believed to be suicidal. After becoming aware of the search, Mr. Ames and his son Isaac began searching on their personal ATV. Ames found the man unconscious but breathing in a ravine a half mile north of the neighborhood, according to the news release.

Ames drove back and notified rangers, who followed him to the site on a 4-wheel drive road, where life-saving measures were immediately initiated by the rangers.

“Mr. Ames acted with determination and selflessness to help find a fellow citizen in distress,” according to the news release.

Colorado Department of Transportation employees Blade Phillips and Nicholas Stermer, and Robert Johnson with Plains All American Pipeline received their awards for assisting a deputy at the scene of a traffic crash.

The three men were already on scene of the crash when the deputy arrived. They advised the deputy the man who had just crashed was attempting to leave the scene. The man, who was disrobed and sweating profusely, would not speak to the deputy and began to actively fight with him as the deputy was attempting to place him in handcuffs, according to the news release.

The deputy soon realized that the subject was suffering some type of seizure or manic episode. Because of the combative nature and medical condition of the driver, the deputy asked for assistance from Phillips, Stermer and Johnson. As the driver was trying to bite, pinch and strike the deputy and the three citizens, they placed him on the ground and restrained him as gently as possible until medical help arrived.

“They did not hesitate to step up and assist the deputy. They acted selflessly and heroically to help a citizen in need,” according to the news release.